MTUC: Dialogues vital

&#147;Such tripartite dialogues, which are open and transparent, should be
increased in frequency for the good of the country,&#148; he said at the 13th
Workers Memorial Day in Butterworth recently.
<p>Syed Shahir said this would help reduce accidents occurring in the workplace.</p>
<p>&#147;Despite working hard to earn a lot of money, life would be meaningless
if we become disabled from an accident at work,&#148; he added.</p>
<p>Organised by the MTUC’s Penang division, the yearly event is a tribute to workers
who are killed or injured on the job.</p>
<p>The site chosen for it was at the stone memorial near the Penang Bridge toll
plaza. The memorial was erected in memory of workers who were injured or had
died while building the bridge.</p>
<p>Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, who graced the event, said in
the past, there were more cases of workers being abused by employers who had
no vision or scruples.</p>
<p>&#147;Today, the scene has changed. Employers are more progressive and treat
their human resource like an asset,&#148; he said.</p>
<p>On another matter when speaking to newsmen, Dr Koh said South Korea&#146;s
Hyundai, which had expressed interest in building Penang&#146;s second link,
would have to submit its plan to the Economic Planning Unit (EPU).</p>
<p>&#147;There are other companies who are also keen on the project but I don’t
know the total number as some had gone directly to the Federal Government.</p>
<p>&#147;As far as I know, no company has been awarded the project yet,&#148;
he said.</p>
<p>On whether Hyundai, which was the main contractor for the 1985 Penang Bridge
project, would be given priority, he said this would not be the basis for the
selection. </p>
<p>He was commenting on news reports quoting South Korea ambassador Son Sang-ha
who expressed Hyundai&#146;s interest in taking up the project.